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Law Murray: Of the eight teammates that Marcus Smart has played more than 70 minutes with this season, the Lakers have outscored their opponents with five of them (Ayton, Doncic, Hachimura, Vanderbilt, Reaves) Asked Smart about how a player might observe how they play within lineup combos
Of the eight teammates that Marcus Smart has played more than 70 minutes with this season, the Lakers have outscored their opponents with five of them (Ayton, Doncic, Hachimura, Vanderbilt, Reaves)
— Law Murray 🏴☠️ (@LawMurrayTheNU) February 23, 2026
Asked Smart about how a player might observe how they play within lineup combos pic.twitter.com/T0GzS8v0ZD

In a recent episode of “The Kevin O’Connor Show,” Kevin stated that the Lakers are trying to send out Jarred Vanderbilt and Gabe Vincent in an attempt to acquire a wing. Kevin O’Connor: “With the Lakers, the word on the street is that they’re looking to package Jarred Vanderbilt and Gabe Vincent together for a wing.”

Kevin O’Connor: With the Lakers, the word on the street is that they're looking to package Jarred Vanderbilt and Gabe Vincent together for a wing. Now, the really interesting thing with them is they've been shopping around their future 2032 first-round pick for multiple first-round draft picks, similar to what the Suns did a year ago when they traded their 2031 pick to the Jazz for three lesser firsts in 2025, 2027, and 2029. So, it seems like the Lakers are looking out for two or three future first that are worse individually than their future first, which giving them more parts to put together in like Vincent plus Vanderbilt or Vincent plus Kleber types of packages. And so, the Lakers are definitely looking for a wing. I think they definitely have interest on Herb Jones. Probably too pricey. Trey Murphy, Jonathan Kuminga, maybe the Warriors, maybe as a third team. Maybe we're gonna see a situation, Tom, where Kuminga gets sent to the Lakers for filler plus a pick and then the Warriors send that pick plus other assets to go get a Michael Porter Jr. or a Trey Murphy or something like that. But that's my understanding right now with what the Lakers are angling to do with their with their future picks and with the guys on the existing roster.

Mike Finger: Sochan told us JV told him to come see him after the game, so he did. “We just had a polite exchange and, I was, I think, very joyful and, you know, the other person wasn't. He wasn't stable in that moment. So, something he has to work on.”
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Lakers Daily: LeBron on Vando: "We also need him to knock down a corner shot. ... Teams are not gonna guard him. They kinda disrespect him over there, not even contesting the shots and he's put a lot of work every day in practice just shooting that same shot."

Lakers Comms: LAKERS STATUS UPDATE Jarred Vanderbilt (right leg soreness) has been upgraded to AVAILABLE for tonight’s game versus Memphis.

Dave McMenamin: When LAL lost to SAS in the NBA Cup QF, they were out rebounded 50-43. In their two games since, wins over PHX and UTA, they are +26 on the glass. A big reason? Jarred Vanderbilt returned to the rotation, with 18 reb in those two games. “That’s something I can bring to the table every single night”
Oh No He Didn't: Vando on Dillon Brooks going at it with LeBron: "He brought his antics, tonight it cost him"
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Dan Woike: A couple of notes from Lakers practice today. - The Austin Reaves calf strain is minor, and Redick says he expects him to be out a week. Injury happened before SA game at some point. - A lot of talk about trying to re-establish better defensive habits and not given to the team simply being a lousy defensive team. - Jared Vanderbilt said he's eager to try and help solve some of the defensive issues. TBD whether he gets that chance. - Marcus Smart praised Adou Thiero's defensive potential, said he's a willing learner. - Redick said Thiero, because of the knee issues, is still on a minutes restriction. Also said no rookie in history of the NBA has been good off-ball defensively.

Dave McMenamin: Jarred Vanderbilt on whether there was a direct conversation from the coaching staff that he would be out of the rotation: “Kind of here and there, I guess” On being back in the rotation: “It was a surprise” On how he’s handling all this: “I’m good … supporting the team”
Dave McMenamin: Jarred Vanderbilt played in the first 14 games of the season for the Lakers. Then he’s received a DNP in the last five, even though he’s healthy. Lakers coach JJ Redick explained the lineup decision before L.A. hosted Phoenix on Monday.
Jarred Vanderbilt played in the first 14 games of the season for the Lakers. Then he’s received a DNP in the last five, even though he’s healthy. Lakers coach JJ Redick explained the lineup decision before L.A. hosted Phoenix on Monday. pic.twitter.com/38XnsB2Vf7
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) December 2, 2025
Deandre Ayton reflected on the team's win after the game, per reporter Dave McMenamin. He stated that the Lakers' recent loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder was a wake-up call for the team, knowing what they needed to do to get back on track. “I was telling Kleber and Vando…that OKC game woke us up. Coming in with different spirits and understanding like forget the back to back. You know what I'm saying? This is Laker basketball. We're trying to win a game,” Ayton said. A reporter later asked him about why he's happy to be in Los Angeles. Ayton made his answer very clear with a loud and explicit statement. “IM F**KING EXCITED. I love everything. I love everybody.”